Rattlesnakes are best known for the hiss of their famous tails. And this western diamondback rattlesnake catches its prey, a rat, with an ambush.
ONE OF THE DESERT’S MOST DEADLY HUNTERS IS ON THE PROWL.
IT CAN GROW up to SEVEN FEET LONG, AND COMES EQUIPPED WITH long FANGS capable of delivering a potent venom..
THE WESTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE.
ABOUT 30 SPECIES OF RATTLESNAKE LIVE IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. Rattlesnakes are PIT VIPERS, so-called because of THE HEAT SENSing PITS located ON EITHER SIDE OF THEir HEADs.
THESE help THE SNAKES LOCATE PREY EVEN IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT.
BUT THEY’RE EVEN BETTER KNOWN FOR THE HISS OF THEIR FAMOUS TAILS. ONE QUICK RATTLE, AND ANY PREDATORS INSTANTLY KNOW TO STAY AWAY. FAR AWAY.
THE RATTLESNAKE ALSO HAS A POTENT SENSE OF SMELL – BUT IT DOESN’T JUST FOLLOW ITS NOSE.
THE FORKED TONGUE PICKS UP ODOR PARTICLES FROM THE AIR AS IT FLICKS IN AND OUT, AND PASSES THEM OVER An organ in the roof of the mouth that, essentially, both smells AND tastes…
THIS SNAKE HAS SNIFFED OUT THE PERFECT PLACE FOR AN AMBUSH.
WITH ONE STRIKE, THE RATTLESNAKE INJECTS TOXIC VENOM INTO THE RAT WHICH ATTACKS THE BLOODSTREAM.
SOON, THE RAT IS IMMOBILIZED…AND DINNER IS SERVED.
RATTLESNAKES SWALLOW THEIR PREY WHOLE, SLOWLY DIGESTING THE FOOD AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE BODY.
An adult rattler will generally eat only once every two weeks…
WHICH IS GOOD NEWS FOR THE REMAINING LOCAL RODENTS.
